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This week is the Young Artists Division. I do notice quite a few big names in this division. Anna Han seems to be winning about everything lately, and Aimi Kobayashi who seems to be gaining a pretty big performing and recording career over in Japan, as well as many many others.

It's not that often anymore that I hear a piece I never heard before and am almost overwhelmed by its beauty. I can only remember that happening a handful of times in the last decade. So thanks for posting that Ireland piece. Sounds very Debussyish to me.

It's a shame that the video for the competition is so horrible. Might as well just be an audio transmission.

It's a shame that the video for the competition is so horrible. Might as well just be an audio transmission.

That's what I stated in the other thread too... I am listening right now, but it is impossible to see anything. The camera is very far and the light on the stage too bright... Still... it is nice to listen.

Your friend is amazing, debrucey! I have to say I personally thought the Godowsky/Chopin was his weakest piece, but what do I know :P The Ireland and Prokofiev were great, especially because I haven't heard either piece performed often. The level of this competition is really high though, and much more consistently so than the Junior competition last week IMO. I liked Aimi Kobayashi's Appassionata too, though it's true her "Youtube reputation" is probably overblown. I wasn't blown away by Anna Han, but that probably has a lot to do with the fact that I don't like the Liszt Danse Macabre transcription.

Tom did great! I was kind of bored by Anna's Haydn, and Aimi did pretty well on the Appasionata. I felt her second movement she had a hard time counting, but then again, most people do, so I guess we'll see how it plays out! They cut from 32 straight down to 6, so who knows how this will play out for the finals.

The three moods by Copland was performed by Zhu Wang. Among all competitors, I think he is the most musical one. The problem with him is that his pieces are far on the easy side relative to those of the other competitors.

Aimi Kobayashi just played Scriabin Piano Sonata No. 2 and Chopin Piano Sonata No. 2. As usual, her playing was sensitive and beautiful, particularlly in those slow movements. But she seemed to have some issue on her right hand for fast movements in terms of voicing. Her shoulders also seemed quite high, and that could be the reason that the sound for melody she was looking for was not there. Anyhow, her playing of big romantic pieces was very satisfactory relative to that of Beethoven op. 57.

It takes guts (or something else) to play Mozart's Fantasia in D minor in a competition like this ...

Bolai Cao is doing just that.

Agreed! I personally think he pulled it off really well and has a real shot at winning.

Originally Posted by ABC Vermonter

Aimi Kobayashi just played Scriabin Piano Sonata No. 2 and Chopin Piano Sonata No. 2. As usual, her playing was sensitive and beautiful, particularlly in those slow movements. But she seemed to have some issue on her right hand for fast movements in terms of voicing. Her shoulders also seemed quite high, and that could be the reason that the sound for melody she was looking for was not there. Anyhow, her playing of big romantic pieces was very satisfactory relative to that of Beethoven op. 57.

Interesting you say that - I actually thought her op. 57 was pretty good, and was more disappointed in her performances today (but then again, I had higher expectations for her romantic works). But I'm with you in that I would be somewhat surprised (pleasantly so) if she made it into the finals.

Thomas Hicks is playing now - I wasn't a huge fan of his op. 109, but the Shchedrin (sp?) he's playing now is interesting and unusual.

From what I've heard (I missed most of the performances yesterday), I would expect Alex Beyer, Bolai Cao, and Anna Han to be among the finalists. Thoughts?